Mid-Term Study Guide 16-17

U.S. History I Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

This major two-hour exam consists of two (2) sections. Students must complete FOUR (4) of the short answer questions (out of a choice of 6) in Section One. Students must also complete ALL five questions in Section Two. It is worth 10 percent of your overall grade.

Section I (60 minutes) - FOUR short answer responses from a choice of 6 questions (5 marks each for a total of 20 marks)

Below are 10 possible short answer questions based on material that we have studied during the first semester. You will be given a choice of six of these questions on the exam and will have to choose FOUR to answer. Please see below for helpful information on how to answer these questions.

1. What role did the English colonies play in the Mercantilism system and in the Triangular Trade and how did it lead to an early desire for independence?

2. Discuss the main differences between the northern and southern colonies in the early 1700s.

3. How did British policies of the Navigation Acts and Salutary Neglect create tension between the colonies and Great Britain between 1650 and 1750?

4. How did the British victory over France in the French and Indian War lead to new conflicts with the British colonists during the 1760s?

5. Choose TWO of the following acts or events and explain how it helped created conditions for the American Revolution: Stamp Act, Townsend Act, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts.

6. In what ways did the Declaration of Independence of 1776 justify the United States separation from Britain?

7. Why did the Articles of Confederation prove inadequate for governing the new nation?

8. Choose ONE of the following major features of the Constitution and explain why it is an important part of our system of government: (1) the system of checks and balances; or (2) the division of powers between the state and federal governments; or (3) the provision for adding amendments.

9. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson brilliantly and aggressively argued over very different visions of what America should be. Do you think their conflict between their two parties helped or hurt the developing nation? Explain your answer.

10. Were the Alien and Sedition Acts true to American ideals? Explain your answer.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Structuring your Short Answer Paragraph

A well-developed paragraph in academic work will consist of the following FOUR elements:

1. The main point of your paragraph will appear in a topic sentence. Make sure this sentence points back toward the question or prompt.

2 Explain the main point. Give more information for your reader to understand the main idea.

3. Add a supporting detail, quote, or example to illustrate your main point.

4. Explanation or analysis of how the supporting detail, quote, or example relates to your main idea.

Below are topics where the primary source material will be drawn from for your five document-based questions. While you cannot specifically study for these questions, it is important that you remember the ideal way to answer each of the type of questions.

- 2 Comprehension Questions: You can explain two or three (depending on the number of marks the question is worth) messages from each source in your own words AND provide evidence from the source demonstrating/proving your understanding (ie. Quotes).

- 1 Compare and Contrast Question: You will have made several comparisons and contrasts between two documents and an argument is made throughout your answer; arguments are based on specific evidence in the sources. You have also effectively used quotes from the sources to make direct links between the documents.

POSSIBLE TOPICS for FINAL EXAM

Chapter 3: The Colonies Come of Age

Chapter 4: The War for Independence / Declaration of Independence

Chapter 5: Shaping a New Nation

Chapter 5a: The U.S. Constitution

Chapter 6: Launching the New Nation

Examples of Document-Based Questions

These questions are from the 2015-16 Mid-Term Exam

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. (a) According to Source C, which freedoms are “necessary to the

security of a Free State”? [2 marks]

(b) Why, according to Source D, were the taxes on the colonies justified? [3 marks]

ORIGIN & PURPOSE QUESTIONS

2. (a) What is the origin and purpose of Source D. [2 marks]

(b) What is the origin and purpose of Source E. [2 marks]

COMPARE & CONTRAST QUESTION

3. Compare & contrast the messages of Sources A and B with regards to

Colonists’ complaints toward the British. [6 marks]

Assessment Principles

Our 2016-17 US History I midterm exam reflects some of the principles of the Sturgis Assessment Policy. The exams are used as formative assessment in helping to prepare students in development of skills relative to the IB program. Specific skills tested on this exam include the evaluation of sources with reference to content, origin and purpose, as well as the ability to plan and execute short analytical argument on prescribed topics, which will be assessed using IB and IB-like rubrics. Application of the IB markscheme and markbands will ensure reliability and internal consistency.

Our exams will also provide detailed feedback for teachers, students, and parents to help communicate to all parties where the students’ work stands in relation to their ultimate goals and the nature of students’ strengths and limitations. Such feedback will allow us as instructors to adjust our teaching strategies to accommodate students’ growth areas.